Road-surfacing machine



Dec. 8, 1925- C. KELNHOFER ROAD sunmcme MACHINE Filed March 21, 1924 3Sheets-Sheet 1 C. KELNHOFER ROAD SURFACING MACHINE Filed March 21, 19243 Sheets-Sheet 3 I w H Nt BEST AVAILABLE COPE" Patented Dec. 8, 1925.

U'NiTED STAT-ES CLEMENT KELnHoFER,

or Miinronio; WISCONSIN.

I ROAD-SURFACING MACHINE.

Application filed March 21 1924. Serial ,N'o. 700,923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLEMENT KELNHOFER, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica,

residing at Medford, in the county ofTaylor.

and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Road- 'Su'rfacing Machines; and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full,-clear, concise. and exact description .of theinvention the same.

This invention relates to improvements in: road surfacing or ointingmach1nes,-l1a v1ng, for an object to provide a machine of this;

character which when moved over -a dirt or gravel roadway will functionto level and smooth the surface thereof, distributing that dirt orgravel loosened into hollows.

and similar irregularities of such roadway,

and rendering it, generally, more efficient,

for traversing.

It is likewise an ob ect of the invention to provide a road surfacingmachine em ploying novelly mounted and shaped surface scraping anddistributing blades, the same being capable of vertical adjustment witha View towards securing proper distribution or placement of the looseneddirt or gravel over the entire roadway surface and also,

to permit the desired crowning or similar conditioning of the roadwaysurface.

.Another and equally important object of the invention is to provide themachinewith means for scarifying the surface of a roadway to be levelledand graded. the elements thereof being individually or collectivelyadjustable in order that the desired engagement may be vhad with theroadway vsurface for loosening the irregularly arranged or positionedportions of dirt or gravel without disturbing the bed proper of theroadway.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide the machine with anadjustable wheeled mounting. whereby the wheels may be so positioned asto fully engage a surface over which the machine is travelling, or whendesired, may be caused to move to inoperative positions with respect tothe machine frame, thus permitting the machine to be drawn in sledfashion over the roadway.

vOther objects of the invention will be in part obvious, and in partpointed out here inafter.

such as will enable others skilled in the art? to which it appertains tomake and use "Inorder that the invention and its mode of operation maybe readily understood by persons skilled in the art, I have in the accomthe detailed following description based thereupon-,set, out onepossible embodiment of the same. In these drawin 'sz v v Figure -1 is, as1de elevation ofv the: im-. proved machine; v

Figure 2--is a topplanrview thereof; r igure 3 isarbottom lplan -view ofthe machine;

t'ai'l, partly in 1 secti on, taken on the, line,4et of-Figure 2 1:Figure 5 is-a similar detailtaken on the line 5+5 of Eigure 2; 4

Figure 6 is an enlargedjfragmentary detail, partly in section, taken, onthe line 66 ofFigure 2; v Figure 7.is a corresponding view-taken on theline 77 of Figure 2;

Figure .8

is an enlarged fragmentary detail. partly inSeQtiOn, taken on the line'8-8 of Figure 2; and, Y

Figure 9 is-a detail in ,perspectiveof one of the roadway surfacescraping and earth .or. gravel.distributing blades.

Having more particular reference to the drawings, in connection withwhich like characters of reference will designate corresponding partsthroughout, the improved machine may be stated to comprise a substantially rectangular frame comprising a pair oflongitudina-llydisposed relatively parallel I -beams .1, having the opposite endportions. thereof "transversely connected by bars 2 engaged or connectedwith adjacent portions of the same as indicated at 3, while .bolsters orbrace bars 4 are also disposed transversely of the intermediate portionof theframelso constituted by the I-beams 1 and the end ba'rs'2 and areconnected to adjacent portions of the I-beams 1. as indicated at 5. Asuitable form of draft connection, as generally indicated by the numeral6. is connected tothe forward ends panying illustrative drawings, andin.

of the I-beams or skids of the machine frame u a roadway or othersurface without being drawn in sled fashion, wheels are provided thesame, rearward-wheels 7 being mounted uponarms 8 pivoted to' the"1nner'sides of 1, as indicated at9; the respective-rwheelsfi of thesearms having suitable bearing upon the intermediate portions there0f,-asindicated by the numeral 10, while the outer or free portions of sucharms are'bent slightly" upwardly as indicated at 11 and apertured,

iwhereby'connectionwith a cable or similar means 12 may be effected. Inthisconnec tion, it will be noted that the arrangement of the rearwardwheels 7 upon the pivoted arms 8 is such as to bring the same within orbetween the rearward portions of the I-beams or skids 1, as clearlyshown in the Figures 2 and 3...

" In order that means for e fi'ectingvertical adjustment of theserearward wheels '7 may be had, whereby their extent of engagement theirouter ends mounted insuitable bearngs formedm ad acent rearward portionsof the I-beams or skids 1, as 18 clearly shown in the Figure 5, whilethe inner ends there of have bearing in brackets 14 secured as at 15 tothe rearward connecting bar 2 of the to a pivoted grip member 20 mountedupon each of the several levers 17, as indicated at 21. In this way, itwill be understood that with engagement of the pawl 18 with the teeth ofthe ratchet wheel 16 fixedly mounted upon the shafts 13, rotary motionmay be imparted to the respective shafts 13. As means for limitingpivotal movement of the several levers 17 in certain directions, bracketarms 22 are secured to portions of the rearward cross bar 2 and as willbe noted, have. shouldered portions 23 formed upon their outerextremities, against which adjacent portions of the levers 17 areadapted to abut. Other pawls 24 are pivoted to the under portion of therearward cross bar 2 adiacent the opposite ends thereof and in proximityto each of the ratchet wheels 16 as indicated at 25,-such pawls beingadapted to be normally engaged with the adjacent teeth of theirrespective ratchet wheels 16 in the manner clearly shown in the Figure 4while handle-like extensions 26 are formed upon the rearward or lowerportions of such pawls and are extended therefrom so that pawls,

BEST AVAILABLE cop they may be conveniently engaged and actuated,'whereby to disengage the pawls 21 from the teeth of 'their particularratchet "wheels 16. 'ln 'this w ay', itwill be underadjacent rearwardportions of the I-be'am's" stood that irrespective of engagement of t eteeth of the ratchet wheels will be prevented from having undesi rablerotary movement by reason of the normal engagement of the locking pawls24 therewith. The arrangement of the locking however, is such as topermit rotary movement to be imparted to the adjacent ratchet wheels 16through the mediumof the levers 17 whensaid levers are rocked inrear.ward d1rect1ons,'the movable engagement of the several awls 18 withtheir respective ratchet whee s 16 being such asto permit rotary motionto be intermittentlytransmitted to the several shafts13 with continuedrock; .i mo e en of ing ends of the cables12areconnected tojthe with asurface overwhicli the machineis to be moved may be regulated, apairiofifstubshafts13 are employed, such shaftshaying theleyers Theremainseveral shafts 13.,as isrclearly shownin the Figures dc and 5 andthus, with rotation of l the shaftsg l3j'by' means of the levers "1 7,it, will be understood tha Swinging movement will be imparted totheibearing arms 8 and consequence, vertical movement of the rearwardwheels 7 will be eife'cted. Thus, by lcoiling the cables 12 aboutthe,several shafts 13through.the mediumof the levers 17, said rearwardwheels 7 may have their tread portions brought into engagement with asurface in such a manner asv to entirely support the-weight or load ofthe machine v frame thereupon! Theextent of engagement of such wheels7'-may, of course, be regulated to the desired nicety through the mediumof their particular, levers 17 When it is desired ,to have the wheelsturned to,

inoperative positions with respect to the machine frame, it is onlynecessary to press downwardly. upon the. extended handle portions 26 ofthe. pawls 251, thus disengaging of their resaid pawls 2 1 from theteeth spective ratchet wheels 16,: whereupon the stress imparted'totheqshafts 1-3 will. be sufiicient to. cause rotation of such shafts ina reverse direction, permitting outward swinging movement of thebearing" arm 8 withthe. resultant return ofthe rearward wheels 7 totheir inoperative positions.

Theforward end of the machine frame is supported upon a single wheelindicated herein by the numeral 27 said wheel being provided with curvedbearing forks 28 carrying a vertical pivot pin or pintle 29 upon theupper extremities thereof. which pivot pin is received in a suitableform of bearing bracket 30 secured to a slidable arm or plate 31received in suitable guides formed in verticallv disposed brackets 32,which brackets. as will be noted. are fixedly secured by bolts or othersuitable fastening devices to the forward cross bar 2 of the machine'fra ine, asindi'cated bythe' numeral 33. A lip 54 having a screwthreaded open- "ing formed in its intermediate portion is end of whichis squared in cross section and indicated by the numeral 36, while thelower end thereof has swivel connection with a bearing arm 37 secured tothe intermediate portion of the vertically slidable plate 31. Thus, byrotating the screw threaded shaft 35 in a suitable manner, such as byeng gag ging a handle, wrench, or other device with the squared end 36,the wheel 27 may be either raised or lowered and in this way, the for-Ward end of the machine frame may be partially or wholly supported uponthe wheel, or if desired, the wheel may be moved to an inoperativeposition, whereupon the Ibeams or skids 1 of the machine will fully restupon the surface and thus permit the machine to be drawn thereover insled fashion.

Bracing rods 38 may be and preferably are secured to the upper portionsof the bracket 32 and extended diagonally into engagement with portionsor the forward ends of the I-beams 1, as indicated the numeral 39.

l-Vith aview towards providing the machine with means for scarifying asurface over which the same is drawn either upon its wheels or in sledfashion, I provide a scarifier, indicated in its entirety by the numeral40, such scarifie-r comprising a beam or supporting bar disposedtransversely of the machine frame as is clearly shown in the Figures 2and 3 and having its opposite ends connected to and supported uponbracket arms 41 pivoted to the inner side and forward portions of theseveral I-beams 1. as indicated by the numeral 42. A plurality oftooth-like elements or spikes 43 are arranged upon the forward portionof the beam of the scarifier, which as shown in the Figure 6, isarranged at angles to the perpendicular axis of the machine, inequidistant relation, and are secured in such positions upon thes'carifier beam through the medium of a plurality of U-s'hapedbolts 44adapted to snugly engage or hug the adjacent portions or shanks of thetooth elements 4-3. Thus, when these bolts 44 are tigl'itened, saidtooth elements 43 will be positively retained in their angular positionwith respect to the frame of the machine and furthermore, theirpositioning upon the scarifier beam may be varied so that they canengage the surface of a roadway to be levelled or graded to the desireddepth.

To permit of collective vertical adjust ment of the scarifier presentedby the arrangement of the tooth elements 43 upon the adjacent portionsof the oppositelyi di posed ar1ns' 4 l; 'il hns, "by turnihgi'the sbi ewthreaded shafts 47 in the prope'r'dire'ction,

"barf4'4 is reen ag 'd withlthe' same 'forthhld- BEST AVAlLABLE COPYthrough screw threaded openings i forn e'd --1=h erein veiticallyfscrewthreaded shafts the upper asses of which are 'Sqtl'aTd or'siml- "la'rly'formed as a*t 48, while the lowe'rehds thereof have swivel connection"asaft 49 with it will he understood that upward or downward "movementof the scari fier maybe effected, whereby the tooth elements 43"thereof-may fbe collectively" 'roughtinto 'enira'geinent with a surfaceto e treated to the ilesired depth. e Individual ad'ustm'ent "of thevarious ftodth elements 43 pi the scarfiier io ma f of course, I beeffected, by loosen'rig'ilthe clamping' bar 44 and'the'n individiialmoving the tooth elements'43 to the desired adjusted positions,whereuponthe clamping ing them in their fikedpositions."

As means for 'sc-rapiiig-and distributing the dirt o1' graveP-loos'enedby the'scarifier 40 during inovemenfo'f the surfacing machine or jdinter overithe roadway, thereis' arrangedbetween the';'several"I-bea1nsor skids '1', abeam'hfi, 'one"e'i '1'd of whichhas slidable connectionthroughfa suitable form of bracket 51; with the'i'nne'r side of one of.

the I-beamS' "1; the 'rein'aming end of the "beam beingco'nnected; as at52,. to the ladjacent end ofa' supportin'g'=and hracingbar 53, said "barhaving its remaining" end hingedly or pivotally connected as at 54 tothe inner portion of the aforesaid -I-beam 1. In this connection, itwill be noted that the positioning 'or'the arrangement of thebeam or baris art-angles to the transverse axis of the machine frame. I

An elongated transversely curved -scraping blade 55 is secured hsuitabledevices to the forward portion 0 the beam 50 and has thescraping edge thereof projected below the lower marginal portion of saidbeam 50. Thus, it will be understood that the dirt or gravel loosened bythe scarifier 40 will be taken Lu'p by the blade 55 'and'with movementof the machine over a roadway, will serve to distribute such looseneddirt or gravel transversely over the roadway, thus filling in anyhollows, rats or similar irregularities with the same.

As stated hereinbefore, one end of the beam 50 has slidable connectionthrough one of the I-beams 1 through the bracket 51, and in order thatvertical adjustment of the beam 50 together with the scraper blade 55may be effected at this connection, there is fixedly mounted upon theupper end of said I bea-m a bracket arm 56, having a screw BESTAVAILABLECOPY threaded opening formed-therein through which avertically disposedscrew threaded shaft .57. is, received, the upperend of the shaft beingformed with a squared extension58 whereby to permit the engagement of,a; wrench or similar tooth therewith, while the-lower endg of the shafthas swivel ,connection as at 59 with a portion of the }web .of the beam,50.

:- 10 Further vertical '1 adj beam .50 is permitted by the engagement ofa .Vertically disposed screw threaded rrod 60 in a suitably screwthreaded opening formed therefor in,o-n.e portionof one of thebracu ingbarset, as shownzin the Figure .2, the

lower end ofsuch rod 60 having swivel con- ,n ection. with the adjacentend of the beam 50, as indicated at 61 in the Figure 3. .,Thus, withrotation of .the I0(l;!605i11jtl18 proper direction, -thezend; of thebeam: 50 connected. thereto may beraised orlowered. With, a: \viewtowards ,prov-idinganother form ofsurface. scraperand dirt, or graveldistributor, there is arrangedupon the machine frame, a second beam 50carrying a scraper blade 55, this beam 50 and the scraper blade 55,however, being arranged at an angle opposite t0j-tl1at-in .WhiChthe beam50 and its scraper blade 55; are arranged, as is clearly shown-intheFigures2 and 3., Thus; it will be understoodfthat .loose dirt orgravelpassingzfrom the rear- :ward end of the-scraper -blade. =55 willbe taken up by theiblade 55" and thus-moved in an opposite directiontransversely'across a roadway being :treated,-graded, 0r jointed withthe improved machine. i

Inasmuch as the construction and mounting of this beam and its, scraper.blade is identical with that-described in con- .nection with thebeam50'and its scraper blade 55, no further reference or description of thesame :is-necessary in this particular connection, it suflicing to statethat verti- 45 cal adjustmentof the beam 50., and its scraper blade55jis effected through themed-ium of vertically disposed screwthreadedusha-fts After the loosened dirtor gravel has been 59distributed transversely of the1roadwaybeing treated in oppositedirections through the medium of the scraper; blades 55' and 55, it isdesirable toprovide further meansfor effecting positive distribution-,of;.-. such loosened matter, together'with proper gradingof the same,and to accomplish thisyli provide the machine with atransversely-disposed bar or beam 62, engaging the opposite ends thereofin vertically disposed guide ways formed by the arrangement of anglebracket plates 63 upon the inner side and rearward portions of theI-bea-ms 1, as clear- -ly shown in the Figure 4. A- scraper blade 64 isconnected to the forward portion of this beam 62 and has the lowerportion thereof curved outwardly and extending for a distance below saidbeam 62 whereby to effect engagement of the same with the surface of aroadway being treated with the machine.

Angular bracket arms 65 are fixedly con-W0 nectedlto portionsofthe-I-beams 1' in proximity to the. opposite ends of the verticallyslidablebeams 62 and have screw threaded ,openingsf rmed in the upperportions there pf'through which vertically disposed screw threadedshafts 66"are passed; the upper ends ofithese shafts beingsquared, asindicated at-G'Z, while the lower-ends thereof .haveswivel connectionwith adjacent portions of the-uppersidc of the-beam 62, as-

indicated at 68. Thus, it will be understood that-the beam 62 with itsscraper blade .64 maybe either elevated or lowered mvith respectwto.,themachine frame'so' as to vary the extent-,of engagement of thescraper'85 blade=64t w'ithuthe surface of a roadway. :fTO preventthecchattering orundue vibragtqry movement of the ,beam 62 together withits scraper blade 64 during usage ofthe' ma- ,ehineul, may andpreferably do provide- ,l ngitudina-Ily disposed spaced brace rods 69,ibifurcating. the opposite extremities 1 thereof and connecting the sameto opposite ,portions of the beam 62, as indicated at 70,

while the rearward extremities of such rods are connected to adjacentportions of the rearward beam 2 of the machine frame construction." Inthis connection, it is to be understood that sufficient flexing of thebracerods 69 at their points of jointure with the beams 62 to allow ofvertical adjust- ,ment ofthebeams 62 will be permitted.

.I have alsofound it advisable to provide flexible brace rods 71 for thescari'fier 40,

connecting the rearward endsof these brace rods 71 to a portion of thescarifier beam as at 72; while the forward ends of such rods are passedthrough the web portion of the forward'cross bar or beam 2 and thensecured by locking nuts or similar means as indicated at 73.

I have also found it practical and advisable to brace the intermediateportion 'of the machine frame with truss rods 7 4, arranging suchrods indiagonally opposed relationship as clearly shown in the Figure 2 andconnecting the opposite ends thereof to ad- .jacent portions of theI-beams 1, in the manner indicated by the numeral 7 5.

I The operation of my improved road surfacing or jointing machine may bereviewed as follows:

The wheels 7 and 27 of the machine frame,

if to be used, are adjusted by their respective levers 17 and the screwthreaded rod 35, so that they will engage with the surface of a roadwayto the desired extent. If, however, the wheels are not to be used forsupporting the machine, they may be caused to move to their inoperativeposition, whereupon-ithelower} portions of the l-beams l, willengagewiththe surface of a roadway and. thus permit the machine to be drawn overthe-roadway in sled-like fashion. H

The-'inachine is hooked to a' tractor -'or other-suitable formofvtraction means and with the scarifier 40; and the scraper blades 55, 55'and 64 properly adjusted to engage the roadway surface to the. desireddepth, the machine will function to stir up theimmediate surface of theroadwayand that dirtor gravel loosened will, with continued movement ofthe machine, be brought into engagement first with the scraper blade 55moving diagonally and transversely along thebeam 50 and transversely ofthe roadway, during which time it will fill in any ruts, ,hollows orirregularities of the roadway surface. The residue of the loosened dirtor gravel will now passfrom the blade 55. and, be taken up by the blade55? and returned in its transverse diagonal. course across the roadwaysurface being treated. Any dirt or gravel remaining uponthe blade 55willbe passed from the free end thereof. and: the transversely'disposedscraping blade 64 will engage the same and move it to one sideorthe other of the roadway if not depositing the same in anyirregularitiesoccurring on the roadway surface.

As stated hereinbefore, the vertical positioning of the scraper blades55, 55 and 64 may be brought. to the desired nicety through theirn'ioveabiemounting upon the machine frame and to facilitate rotation ofthe screw threaded rods connected thereto whereby to effect suchvertical adjustment, I may provide a hand wheel 76, the hub portion ofsaid wheel being provided with a squared opening of a size and shapesuch as to permit. the same to be universally fitted upon the squaredextensions formed upon the upper ends of each of said verticallydisposed screw threaded shafts. Of course, it will be understood thatany form of tool may be substituted in lieu of this wheel, such asconditions or prefe ence may dictate.

In actual usage of my improved road surfacing or jointing machine, Ihave found the same to be highly efficient in the dressing of all rut orpitted gravel roads, or for removing any unevenness or otherirregularities occurring upon dirt or gravel roads, thus permitting themaintenance of such roads to be kept. at their peak of efiiciency withbut little effort upon part of a user of the machine.

The machine has also been found to be practical for use in connectionwith the preparing of highways, where it is intended to apply tarvia,calcium chloride, or other prep arations to the roadway, the machineherein serving as an effectual means for smoothing or grading thesub-grade or bed of the roadway before the composition is placed toprovide an' effectual"form Qty-gradinga .-..70V- showmis Qapable ofconsiderable modifieation,jandsuch n'1od1fication as is within the -S.30.pe of my BEST AVAlLABLE COPY thereupon. Y Likewise, the"machineqinay. be advantageously; employed in the reburlding of--dirt orgravel roads, Where it is vitalmeans for the roadway.

Manifestly, the .7 construction claims, I consider within invention. 5;:

I claim 1. A road; surfacing machinea frame including; Skid-like side.members, transversely .disposedfabrace bars arranged upon theframe,scraping blades extending the spirit of my:

comprising;-

diagonally and transnerselyz ofi said frame; beams extendingdiagonallyand tnansverse- 1y=of theframe having certain oftheinends hingedlyconnected to portions of theropposite side members of said frameandtheir remaining ends connected; tot-the adjacent ends of thecorrespondingblades, meansfor effecting vertical adjustment ofisaidblades throughout their lengths, and surface scarifying meansmounted upon. saidlfname forwardly of thebladesa -.l;

2., A road surfacing unachine comprising a frameincluding;skid-like,sidezmembers, a

plurality, of diagonally extendiingi blades arranged betweeni' theisidemembers of said frame, certain of the ends of said blades havingslidable connection with the side members adjacent thereto, oppositelydisposed diagonal beams hingedly connected at certain of their ends tocertain of said side members and fixedly connected at their remainingends to the adjacent ends of their respective blades, means foreffecting vertical adjustment of said blades with relation to the frame,vertically adjustable scarifying means mounted upon the frame forwardlyof said blades, and wheels mounted for vertical adjustment upon portionsof the frame.

3. A road surfacing machine comprising a frame including skid-like sidemembers, a plurality of diagonally arranged blades positioned betweenthe side members of said fra1ne,-certain of the ends of said bladeshaving vertically slidable connection with certain of the side members,oppositely 'disposed diagonally extending beams hingedly connected toportions of certain of the side members and having their remaining endsfixedly connected to the remaining ends of said blades, manuallyoperable means for effecting vertical adjustment of said blades withrespect to the frame, a scarifier disposed transversely of the frameforwardly of said blades having slidable connection with portions ofsaid side members, manually operable means for effecting vertical adjustment of said scarifier, and Wheels mounted for vertical adjustmentupon portions of said frame.

*members of said frame intermediate the ends thereof, certain of theends ofsaid scraping blades having slidable connection with certain ofsaidfsid'e members, beams hingedly connected at certain of their endsand in opposed relation to portionsof said side members and having theirremaining ends fixedly connected to the adjacent ends of theirrespective scraping blades, manually operable means for efiectingvertical adlfi'justmentof said blades with respect-to the frame, ascarifier includin a transversely disposed beam having slidable connecton with portions of said side members, tooth elements arranged in spacedrelation upon "'said beam, means for clamping said tooth elements inadjusted position upon the scarifier'beam, manually operable means foreffecting vertical adjustment of the sca-rifier beam with respect to-theframe, andakplu "rality of Wheels mounted for vertical adjustment uponportions ofw -said frame.

5. A road surfacing'machine comprising a frame including-skid-like sidem'embers,

a pair of opposed diagonally extending scraping blades positionedbetween the side BEST AVAILABLE COP? members of said frame and intermediately of the opposite ends thereof, certain ofthe ends of saidscrapingblades being arranged in spaced relation from certain of theside members of the frame, said scraping blades having slidableconnection with the adjacent side members, beams hingedly connected tocertain of the side members and disposed in opposed diagonalrelationship, the remaining ends of said beams having connection withthe remaining ends of their respective scraping blades, manually op-'erable means for effecting vertical adjustment of said scraping blades,another scraping blade disposed transversely of the frame and rearwardlyof the first mentioned blades, said last mentioned blade havingvertically slidable connection with said side members, a scarifierdisposed transversely of the frame and arranged forwardly of said firstmentioned blade, said scarifier including individually adjustable toothelements, manually operable'means for effecting vertical adjustment ofsaid scarifier with relation to the frame, and a plurality of wheels'-mounted for vertical adjustment upon portions' of the frame."

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CLEMENT KELNHOFER.

